Favorites English(US) USD

[Hiroshima ]9 retro-modern Onomichi sightseeing spots where the past blends with the present

[Hiroshima ]9 retro-modern Onomichi sightseeing spots where the past blends with the present

2021-04-08 Management office

Onomichi, facing the Seto Inland Sea, is not only home to the Shimanami Kaido. Of course, it is not only world-famous for its cycling paths, but also for its historic retro townscape, with its fashionable old houses and stores in warehouses, there are many hidden gems.
Surrounded by traditional elegance and works of art that could be considered cutting-edge even today, why not embark on a journey to see for yourself the items that have been carefully selected to heighten your senses?
Management office

Author of this article

Management office

Kozoji Museum



Modern Museum

A portion of the temple of the Honganji sect of Shinshu Jodo is exhibited as a museum. Buddhist architecture from the Asuka period to the Edo period has been restored, and items preserved as important cultural properties can be seen in the Buddhist Art, Modern Art, and Tea Ceremony Art galleries.

Marble Sculpture Garden, Miraishin no Oka



The Marble Sculpture Garden and Miraishin no Oka is a famous photo spot that uses marble mined from Carrara, Italy, and is 5,000 m2 in size, creating a space that is unlike any other in Japan.

"Facility Information "
Name of facility: Kozoji Museum
Address: 553-2 Setoda, Setoda-cho, Onomichi, Hiroshima 722-2411
Phone number: 0845-27-0800
Business hours: 9:00-17:00
Admission: Adults 1,400 yen / University students 1,000 yen / High school students 800 yen / Junior high school students and younger free

ONOMICHI U2



Warehouse x Renovation = Stylish Space

The complex was built in a converted shipping warehouse dating from 1934.
The large former warehouse has everything from a hotel to cafes, bars, sundries, bakeries, and bicycle stores, making it a popular hot spot for cyclists and other fashionable people heading for the Shimanami Kaido.

No matter where you take a picture, it is stylish!



Room rates start at around 10,000 yen per person per night.

Spectacular oceanfront location



It is a popular spot for those who prefer simple, functional, and authentic places to spend their time in fashionable spaces where food, clothing, and shelter are washed away.
"Facility Information "
Facility name: ONOMICHI U2
Address: 5-11 Nishi-Gosho-cho, Onomichi, Hiroshima 722-0037
Phone number: 0848-21-0550
Hours of Operation: Hours of operation vary by store.

narrow path of a cat (esp. through pine trees)



Slope that captivates cat lovers

Even in Onomichi, which has many slopes, there is a road called the Cat's Narrow Path, which has particularly narrow slopes.
Shunji Sonoyama's stone drawings of cats are placed everywhere, and since you can see many real cats, it has become a sacred place for cat lovers.

Catnote Bread Factory



The bakery, which was converted from an old private house, is called "Nekonote Bakery.
Climbing up the long hill, you will find a huge line of freshly baked breads, which will make you feel as if you are about to be exhausted. The inexpensive, rustic breads have a nostalgic flavor. The bread is cheap and simple in taste, and the view of the Seto Inland Sea will make your visit an unforgettable experience.

Manekineko Museum in Onomichi



Buried in a beckoning cat

This museum exhibits beckoning cats collected from all over Japan by Mr. Shunji Sonoyama.
About 3,000 beckoning cats are crammed into the museum, which is housed in a converted private house from the Taisho era (1912-1926).



Just looking at the beckoning cat seems to bring good luck.
Some of them are rare cats like this one, so let's find them.

"Facility Information "
Name: Manekineko Art Museum in Onomichi
Address: 19-26 Higashidodo-cho, Onomichi, Hiroshima 722-0033
Phone number: 090-7122-2960
Business hours: 11:00 - 17:00 (Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 10:00)
Closed: Thursday
Fee: Adults 300 yen, Elementary school students 100 yen

Ushioocolatl.



Mastering the old-fashioned chocolate

The Chocolate Factory is a chocolate factory that continues to pursue chocolate. The ingredients are made almost exclusively from fresh cacao beans and sugar, and the store is opened by a group of slightly crazy people who travel to cacao farms around the world to purchase raw materials for "the chocolate".

Stylish packaging x Delicious chocolate



It has also become popular as Miyajima's most powerful souvenir.

"Facility Information "
Facility Name: Ushio Chocolatl
Address: Tachibana Nature Village Management Center, 2200 Tachibana, Mukojima-cho, Onomichi, Hiroshima 722-0071, Japan
Phone number: 0848-36-6408
Business hours: 9:00-17:00
Closed: Tuesday and Wednesday

Cinema Onomichi



retro cinema

It is a movie theater that has been showing movies irregularly by collecting donations from members who started it after the movie theater in Onomichi, which is also a movie town, had been lost.
It is a single screen with 112 seats, and is popular for its incorporation and screening of tasteful movies, which captures and keeps the core moviegoers. It is a traditional free seating system, so if you go early, you can get a good seat.
The film producers also warmly welcome guests to Cinema Onomichi during screenings, making it an irresistible spot for movie lovers.

"Facility Information "
Name: Cinema Onomichi
Address: 6-2 Higashi Gosho-machi, Onomichi, Hiroshima 722-0036
Phone number: 0848-24-8222
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to the end of the movie (please inquire)

Onomichi Museum of Literature



Immerse yourself in Onomichi literature

The Onomichi Municipal Museum of Literature in Onomichi City consists of four buildings: the Literature Memorial Room, the former residence of Kenkichi Nakamura, the former residence of Naoya Shiga, and the Onomichi City Literature Park. In addition to offering visitors a chance to experience the literature of Onomichi City, which has produced many literary figures, this place has also been used as a filming location for movies. Recently, it was also a filming location for STU's PV.

The house where the dark night was made.



Naoya Shiga's former residence is also famous as the place where "Dark Night's Road" was created.

"Facility Information "
Name: Onomichi Museum of Literature
Address: 1-14-1 Kubo, Onomichi, Hiroshima 722-0045
Phone number: 0848-37-6555
Business hours: 10:00-18:00
Closed: Tuesday

Yakubi Cafe & Anago no Nedoko



Row house x renovation = cozy

Even first-time visitors will feel somewhat at home in the akubi café, which looks and feels like an old elementary school that has been renovated, and will likely linger in the café for a long time because of its comforting atmosphere.

Adult School Lunch



The menu looks like a stylish adult school lunch.

third of the sexagenary cycle (in onmyou-dou)



On the same site is the Anago no Nedoko guesthouse, which is popular among foreigners and cyclists. This guesthouse, aptly named, offers not only a place to sleep, but also a relaxing living room.
This facility, which was built in a renovated row house, does not look old, and it seems as if it not only connects people who come to the facility but also connects them to the future.

"Facility Information "
Facility name: Akubi Cafe & Anago no Nedoko
Address: 2-4-9 Tsuchido, Onomichi, Hiroshima 722-0035
Phone number: 050-5240-3127
Hours: Cafe 11am to 7pm (until 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays)
Closed: Cafe Thursdays

Setouchi Minato no Yado



Renting out an entire old private house

The entire Edo period mansion has been renovated and used as a guesthouse.
If you travel with a large group and rent the whole place, you can rent it cheaply. Of course, we also recommend that you use it for two people in luxury.



With Simmons beds, this is a recommended guesthouse where you can immerse yourself in a luxurious atmosphere, as if you were living rather than traveling, as if you were in a vacation home. Breakfast and dinner are available for an additional charge.

"Facility Information "
Facility name: Setouchi Minato no Yado
Address: 11-12 Higashi-Tsuchido-cho, Onomichi, Hiroshima 722-0033
Phone number: 0848-38-1007
Payable time: 9:00-20:00

summary

It is not easy to evolve a product by modifying it little by little so that it can coexist with the times, rather than leaving it in an antiquated state, but when the creator's thoughts are put into it, the result is something that resonates with the viewer.
Please visit Onomichi with someone who can use all five senses to experience the retro-modern streets of Onomichi, which were created to be easily accepted even today. It will surely strengthen the bond between the two of you.
It is also recommended to look for the many hidden spots in the back alleys of Onomichi.

Recommended articles